Boo

Despite being ghosts, Boos are actually quite shy. As long as your back is turned, they have no problem chasing after you with their little arms, or making goofy/menacing face at you with their long, red tongues. But don't let their shyness fool you. These ghoulish bad guys, who first floated onto the scene in Super Mario Bros. 3, are actually quite hard to defeat. Touch one and it only hurts you - which makes sense when you think about it. Super Mario 64 changed this, however, finally giving players the chance to punch these transparent fools in the side or back and reap the coin they for some reason hide in their bellies. Sweet, sweet justice.

Shroob

No, Shroobs are not a type of shrubbery. In fact, they are an alien race that tried to take over the Mushroom Kingdom in Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. These bright purple, mushroom-shaped creatures hail from Shroob Planet, and unlike most other Mario enemies, they carry around firearms as their main means of protection. What violent, violent mushrooms. They also have a tendency to kidnap Toads and steal their Vim (which is basically the equivalent of Toad life force). Gulp.

Big Bertha

Step aside, Cheep-Cheeps - Big Bertha has arrived, and she requires a lot of swimming room. This big, bad mama fish first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3, and can often be found harboring a handful of baby Cheep-Cheeps in her mouth, which she occasionally lets free to do her evil bidding. The obese fishy takes care of keeping the deep sea plumber-free, while her mister, Boss Bass, keeps watch above water. Throw in Bubbas and Blurps and you have quite the dysfunctional family portrait.

Octoomba

These intergalactic alien mushrooms first landed in Super Mario Galaxy. With a glowing strobe light popping out of their heads that just screams 'deep sea nightmare,' these guys are the space equivalent of Goombas. Except there are also Goombas in space, making them somewhat irrelevant. Still, we simply loved stomping these bouncing, head-butting, rock-spitting monsters in galaxy after galaxy.

Pokey

Despite living in the desert and having their entire bodies covered in spikes, Pokeys are actually rather blissful creatures. These cactus dudes delight in popping out of the ground and trying to poke those who would jump over them. The only way to defeat them is to take out each of their spiky body sections until none remain. Funnily enough, these folks aren't native to the Mushroom Kingdom, though they fast became a staple. They actually first appeared in Doki Doki Panic, the Japan-only game that later became what those of us in the States came to know as Super Mario Bros. 2.